A&A MFG INFLOOR - 6-Port Valve Body using 5-Port Cam?

[Viper16]

I have a AA infloor cleaner that I am struggling with keeping functional. Brand new gear rotating assembly. Lasted through last season.

Last season had some air trouble with a leaky leaf filter lid from a crack in the body housing, sucked in a lot of air and priming was miserable. Before winter rolled in, I cut it out and piped returns straight to pump suction in the time being, as this runs year round. Tried to get the system up and running this spring, could get it to cycle through the valves a few times and then gets stuck again. Any tips? I made sure both sides of the gears are free spinning and not bound up with the lock washers, can free spin and they spin on there own for a couple seconds. The right gears of the lock washers on it. The valve body is t-handles and probably original 2004 year. The housing in original. The lid is most likely original as well. The washers at bottom the housing was replaced with the new rotating assembly last year as well.

Could air burping through this cause some disruption of the gear sets and knock them loose? I will check and see through the lid and see if the impeller is spinning. I dont believe it every binds up. They arent complicated...so not sure what my deal is trying to keep it functional.

I noticed on my third time opening it up this spring that there is a 5-port cam in place in lieu of the 6-port cam....




vs what I would expect on a 6-port cam:

 

[proavia]

The 6 port valve body needs the 6 port cam on the gearset.

Do you have the low profile water valve or the top feed water valve?
Each requires a specific gearset and they aren't really interchangeable.

Are you using OEM or after-market gearsets?

Are individual gears coming loose or off?
All of the individual gears - except 2 - have a start lock washer to hold the gear on.

 

[TinFoilHat]

I encourage you to put a leaf canister back on it or you will get everything from the floor into your pump basket. I get virtually nothing in my pump basket because of the leaf canister. How did you end up with a 5 plug gearset when you have 6 zones? Bad purchase? That could be part of the issue. Also, did you replace the BIG washer too? You might also have cracked or broken ramps that the flappers ride on. After several repaired ramps and two new gearsets on my aged head I finally just replaced it and haven't had issues for several years now. Mine is the low profile version with 6 zones.

 

[Viper16]

@proavia - Low Profile, OEM Gearsets. Not really gears coming off...just no rotation. I took it apart...and saw I had put a washer on top of the impeller between it and the cover...could be cause.

I reseated everything and double-checked everything...lined up the cover and put water through it....its rotating now....still curious about the valve cam?

 

[Viper16]

I encourage you to put a leaf canister back on it or you will get everything from the floor into your pump basket. I get virtually nothing in my pump basket because of the leaf canister. How did you end up with a 5 plug gearset when you have 6 zones? Bad purchase? That could be part of the issue. Also, did you replace the BIG washer too? You might also have cracked or broken ramps that the flappers ride on. After several repaired ramps and two new gearsets on my aged head I finally just replaced it and haven't had issues for several years now. Mine is the low profile version with 6 zones.

I have a new leaf canister...its larger in diameter so I need to backcut some concrete pad for it to fit. I have a new pool heater and valve sets that are getting replaced this fall....so it will all be replaced.

I agree...never had touch the pump strainers when that leaf canister was in operation.

as for the cam setup...it was here when I moved in...three years ago...I had no idea otherwise. I highly reputable company installed this pump originally...the floor stays clean and I have to do very little brooming.

New large washers, two washers between rotating assembly and the impeller, and then the cover.

 

[TinFoilHat]

By new large washer(s) do you mean you put two of them under the flappers? There is only supposed to be one there.

 

[proavia]

There are supposed to be 2 large anti-friction disks under the gearset and two small washers between the gearset and impeller as far as I know.
That is the only washers that come with the rebuild kit.


Have a look at this YouTube video.
Apparently there are two different kits for the low profile water valve - 1.5" and 2".
The 2" kit has a blue cam and the 1/5" has the white cam.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Hmm, I don't remember having two in mine.

 

[proavia]

Hmm, I don't remember having two in mine.

See the linked video.

I know for certain that the older top feed valves have two as well.